Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Kalispell, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.7% of gross income.

Kalispell rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Kalispell median rent
$1,852/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Montana)
$83,142/yr
Rent as % of income
26.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,929, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,079/mo in rent. Kalispell's median rent of $1,852 leaves roughly $227/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 46.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a registered nurse salary

Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Montana cities have lower median rent than Kalispell, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Livingston, MT
$1,839/mo (26.5% of income)
Livingston, MT
$1,783/mo (25.7% of income)
Livingston, MT
$1,738/mo (25.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kalispell

View full rent data for Kalispell, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Kalispell, MT?

Median rent in Kalispell is $1,852 a month. A typical registered nurse in Montana earns about $83,142 a year, which makes that rent 26.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Kalispell?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Montana (~$83,142/yr) supports up to $2,079 a month in rent. Kalispell's current median rent is $1,852/mo, which leaves a $227/mo buffer.

How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Kalispell?

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a registered nurse in Montana works roughly 46.3 hours a month to cover Kalispell's median rent of $1,852.

Where is rent cheaper than Kalispell for a registered nurse?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Livingston ($1,839/mo), Livingston ($1,783/mo), Livingston ($1,738/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Montana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Kalispell, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.